With the club deep in debt, desperate for new owners, hunting a new manager and unsettled stars considering their futures, the club should be splashed all over the back pages. But with the World Cup dominating the headlines, Liverpool can go about their vital summer work away from the usual intense glare of the media. With arguably the most important summer in the club’s history stretching ahead, day after day of ‘crisis club’ headlines would have been distracting at best and seriously damaging at worst.
Would any top class managers – exactly the type of manager Liverpool now so badly needs – really be attracted to a club having its dirty laundry not just aired but washed, dried and ironed in public? Whatever your opinion of Rafa, it is a fact (no pun intended) that under his leadership Liverpool moved from being a club that did its dealings behind closed doors to one that suddenly seemed to openly court publicity, irrespective of whether that publicity was good or bad.
Hopefully, the South Africa showpiece will mean that Christian Purslow & Co can go about their business far more quietly, and, therefore, more effectively. Of course, there will be speculation – particularly, and understandably, the question of the new manager. But the level of media interest, speculation and criticism is likely to be tame in comparison to what might have been expected in a non World Cup year.
Imagine a hoard of sports journalists desperate to fill their pages during the traditional summer football famine. In its current state, Liverpool would be easy pickings. The World Cup therefore offers a crucial window of opportunity that Liverpool Football Club simply has to take. It also offers the added bonus that many of Liverpool’s top players are hidden away in their respective international camps. They are away from agents, shielded from gossip and concentrating on their football. Talisman Steven Gerrard has already publicly stated his intention to focus on playing for England before entertaining any thoughts regarding his Kop career. Fernando Torres will concentrate on fulfilling Spain’s billing as favourites before thinking about his Anfield future.
This is the World Cup as a cooling period. Gerrard, Torres et al simply can’t be expected to think about their Liverpool careers – and risk distraction – while seeking international glory. Had they all just jetted off on holiday after such a disappointing season, the speculation would, by now, be intense. Rumours would fill page after page. Pressure for decisions would mount. Sky Sports News would be permanently camped outside the Shankly Gates. But, for several weeks at least, Liverpool must be the last thing on he players’ minds. They have to focus on the job in hand – the World Cup.
The World Cup has given Liverpool time – a precious commodity in modern football. Big decisions take time and Liverpool fans will pray that the time is used wisely.
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Germany what a crazy game!